A sharded, permissioned, distributed ledger may reduce the amount of work and communication required by each participant, thus possibly avoiding scalability bottlenecks that may be inherent in previous distributed ledger implementations and possibly enabling the use of additional resources to translate to increased throughput. A sharded, permissioned, distributed ledger may be made up of multiple shards, each of which may also be a distributed ledger and which may operate in parallel. Participation within a sharded, permissioned, distributed ledger may be allowed only with permission of an authority. A sharded, permissioned, distributed ledger may include a plurality of nodes, each including a dispatcher configured to receive transaction requests from clients and to forward received requests to verifiers configured to append transactions to individual ones of the shards.
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2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the summary of the present state of the second shard is unforgeable.
The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for securely managing data in a distributed ledger system, specifically addressing the challenge of ensuring the integrity and authenticity of shard state summaries in a blockchain or similar decentralized network. The method involves generating a summary of the present state of a second shard, where this summary is designed to be unforgeable, meaning it cannot be altered or tampered with by unauthorized parties. This unforgeability is achieved through cryptographic techniques, such as digital signatures or hash-based verification, ensuring that any attempt to modify the summary would be detectable. The method also includes verifying the unforgeability of the summary before accepting it as valid, thereby maintaining the trustworthiness of the distributed ledger. The system may involve multiple shards, each representing a partition of the ledger, and the method ensures that state transitions between shards are secure and verifiable. This approach enhances the security and reliability of distributed ledger systems by preventing fraudulent modifications to shard state summaries, which is critical for applications requiring high levels of trust, such as financial transactions or supply chain tracking.
3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the summary of the present state of the second shard comprises a cryptographic hash of a previous transaction included in the second shard.
This invention relates to distributed ledger technology, specifically methods for verifying the state of sharded blockchains. The problem addressed is ensuring consistency and integrity across multiple shards in a blockchain network, where each shard processes a subset of transactions independently. The invention provides a technique for summarizing the present state of a shard using a cryptographic hash of a previous transaction included in that shard. This summary allows other nodes or shards to verify the validity of the shard's state without requiring full transaction history retrieval. The method involves generating a hash of a specific transaction within the shard, which serves as a compact yet tamper-evident representation of the shard's state. This approach enhances efficiency in cross-shard validation and reduces computational overhead by avoiding the need to process entire transaction histories. The invention is particularly useful in permissioned or private blockchain environments where performance and scalability are critical. The use of cryptographic hashing ensures that any unauthorized modifications to the shard's state would be detectable, maintaining the integrity of the distributed ledger.
5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the shard transaction is sent to a leader verifier of the first shard; and wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises proposing, by the leader verifier, the shard transaction to a set of verifier processes active on the first shard according to a consensus protocol.
This invention relates to distributed ledger technology, specifically a method for processing transactions in a sharded blockchain system. The problem addressed is ensuring efficient and secure transaction validation across multiple shards, where each shard operates as a separate partition of the blockchain. The method involves sending a shard transaction to a designated leader verifier within a first shard. The leader verifier then proposes the transaction to a set of verifier processes active on that shard, following a consensus protocol to validate the transaction. The consensus protocol ensures that all verifier processes in the shard agree on the transaction's validity before it is added to the blockchain. This approach improves scalability by distributing transaction processing across shards while maintaining security through consensus-based validation. The leader verifier coordinates the proposal process, ensuring that only valid transactions are propagated to the broader network. The method is particularly useful in high-throughput blockchain systems where decentralized validation is required without compromising performance or security.
6. The computer implemented method of claim 5, wherein the summary of the present state of the second shard comprises information regarding other verifier processes of the second shard.
This invention relates to distributed ledger technology, specifically methods for verifying and summarizing the state of shards in a blockchain network. The problem addressed is the need for efficient and accurate verification of shard states in a partitioned blockchain, where multiple shards operate independently but must maintain consistency with the overall network. The method involves generating a summary of the present state of a second shard, which includes information about other verifier processes operating within that shard. Verifier processes are responsible for validating transactions and maintaining the integrity of the shard's ledger. By incorporating details about these processes into the summary, the method enables cross-verification and ensures that the state of the second shard is accurately reflected in the broader network. This summary can then be used by other nodes or shards to validate the second shard's state, improving overall network reliability and security. The method may also involve generating a summary of a first shard, which includes information about verifier processes within the first shard. These summaries can be exchanged between shards to facilitate inter-shard verification, ensuring that all shards maintain a consistent and trustworthy state. The summaries may include metadata such as transaction hashes, verifier identities, and validation timestamps, providing a comprehensive view of the shard's current state. This approach enhances the scalability and security of the blockchain network by enabling efficient state verification across distributed shards.
7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the summary of the present state of the second shard comprises a count of transactions included in the second shard.
The invention relates to distributed ledger technology, specifically methods for managing and summarizing data in a sharded blockchain system. The problem addressed is the need for efficient state synchronization between shards in a blockchain network, where shards are partitions of the ledger that operate independently but must periodically reconcile their states to maintain consistency. The method involves generating a summary of the present state of a second shard in a blockchain network. This summary includes a count of transactions that have been processed and recorded in the second shard. The summary is then transmitted to a first shard, which uses this information to update its own state or to verify the consistency of the second shard's state. The method ensures that the first shard can efficiently track changes in the second shard without requiring a full state transfer, reducing computational overhead and improving synchronization efficiency. The summary may also include additional metadata, such as timestamps or transaction hashes, to provide further context for state reconciliation. The method is particularly useful in large-scale blockchain networks where shards must frequently synchronize to maintain network integrity and performance. By using transaction counts as part of the state summary, the system can quickly identify discrepancies and resolve them without extensive data transfers. This approach enhances scalability and reliability in sharded blockchain architectures.
9. The sharded, permissioned, distributed ledger system of claim 8, wherein the summary of the present state of the second shard is unforgeable.
A sharded, permissioned, distributed ledger system is designed to enhance security and scalability in blockchain networks. The system divides the ledger into multiple shards, each processing a subset of transactions independently to improve throughput. This approach addresses the limitations of traditional blockchains, which often suffer from slow transaction speeds and high computational costs due to processing all transactions on a single chain. In this system, each shard maintains its own state, and a summary of the present state of a second shard is generated. The summary is cryptographically secured to ensure it cannot be altered or forged by unauthorized parties. This unforgeability is achieved through cryptographic techniques, such as digital signatures or hash functions, which verify the integrity and authenticity of the state summary. By preventing tampering, the system ensures that the state of each shard remains reliable and trustworthy, even in a distributed environment where multiple nodes may participate in validation. The system also includes mechanisms to synchronize and validate the state summaries across shards, ensuring consistency and preventing conflicts. This is particularly important in permissioned networks where only authorized participants are allowed to interact with the ledger. The combination of sharding, cryptographic security, and permissioned access provides a robust framework for enterprise-grade applications requiring high performance and strong security guarantees.
10. The sharded, permissioned, distributed ledger system of claim 8, wherein the summary of the present state of the second shard comprises a cryptographic hash of a previous transaction included in the second shard.
A sharded, permissioned, distributed ledger system is designed to enhance scalability and security in decentralized networks by partitioning data into multiple shards, each managed by a subset of nodes. This approach addresses the limitations of traditional blockchains, such as slow transaction processing and high computational overhead, by enabling parallel processing across shards while maintaining consensus and integrity. In this system, each shard operates as an independent ledger segment, storing a subset of transactions and state data. To ensure consistency and prevent tampering, the system includes a mechanism for summarizing the present state of a second shard. This summary incorporates a cryptographic hash of a previous transaction within the second shard, providing a verifiable reference point for validating subsequent transactions. The hash acts as a digital fingerprint, ensuring that any alteration to the transaction data would be detectable, thereby preserving the integrity of the ledger. The system also includes a method for updating the state of the second shard based on new transactions, where the updated state is derived from the previous state and the new transactions. This ensures that the ledger remains consistent and tamper-proof. Additionally, the system may include a mechanism for validating transactions within the second shard by comparing the summary of the present state with the cryptographic hash of the previous transaction, further enhancing security. By combining sharding with cryptographic validation, this system improves transaction throughput and security in permissioned distributed ledgers, making it suitable for enterprise applications requiring high performance and trust.
13. The sharded, permissioned, distributed ledger system of claim 12, wherein the summary of the present state of the second shard comprises information regarding other verifier processes of the second shard.
A sharded, permissioned, distributed ledger system is designed to improve scalability and efficiency in blockchain networks by partitioning the ledger into smaller, manageable segments called shards. Each shard operates independently but contributes to the overall ledger, allowing parallel processing of transactions. This system addresses the limitations of traditional blockchains, such as slow transaction speeds and high computational costs, by distributing the workload across multiple shards. In this system, a shard maintains a summary of its current state, which includes information about the verifier processes responsible for validating transactions within that shard. Verifier processes are nodes or entities that ensure the integrity and consistency of transactions processed by the shard. By including details about these verifiers in the state summary, the system enhances transparency and accountability, allowing other nodes or shards to verify the legitimacy of transactions and the overall state of the shard. This feature is particularly useful in permissioned networks where access and validation are controlled, ensuring that only authorized verifiers participate in the consensus process. The inclusion of verifier information in the state summary also facilitates better coordination between shards, improving the overall efficiency and reliability of the distributed ledger.
14. The sharded, permissioned, distributed ledger system of claim 8, wherein the summary of the present state of the second shard comprises a count of transactions included in the second shard.
A sharded, permissioned, distributed ledger system is designed to improve scalability and efficiency in blockchain networks by partitioning the ledger into smaller, manageable segments called shards. Each shard operates independently but contributes to the overall ledger, allowing parallel processing of transactions. This approach addresses the limitations of traditional blockchains, which often suffer from slow transaction speeds and high computational costs due to their monolithic structure. In this system, a first shard processes transactions and generates a summary of its current state, which includes a count of transactions included in the first shard. Similarly, a second shard processes transactions and generates a summary of its current state, which also includes a count of transactions included in the second shard. These summaries are then used to synchronize the state between shards, ensuring consistency across the distributed ledger. The inclusion of transaction counts in the summaries helps track the progress and workload of each shard, enabling efficient load balancing and validation. The system operates in a permissioned environment, meaning only authorized participants can validate and add transactions to the ledger. This enhances security and trust while maintaining the benefits of decentralization. The distributed nature of the ledger ensures that no single entity controls the entire system, reducing the risk of manipulation or failure. By leveraging sharding, the system achieves higher throughput and lower latency, making it suitable for enterprise applications requiring high-performance transaction processing.
16. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the summary of the present state of the second shard is unforgeable.
The invention relates to distributed ledger technology, specifically systems for securely managing and verifying data across multiple shards in a blockchain or similar decentralized network. The problem addressed is ensuring the integrity and authenticity of shard state summaries in a distributed ledger system where data is partitioned into multiple shards. In such systems, verifying the consistency and validity of shard states is critical for maintaining trust and security, but traditional methods may be vulnerable to tampering or forgery. The invention provides a method for generating and verifying an unforgeable summary of the present state of a second shard in a distributed ledger system. The summary is cryptographically secured, ensuring that it cannot be altered or forged without detection. This involves using cryptographic techniques, such as digital signatures or hash functions, to create a tamper-evident representation of the shard's state. The summary is then stored or transmitted in a way that allows other nodes or participants in the network to verify its authenticity. The system may also include mechanisms for periodically updating the summary to reflect changes in the shard's state while maintaining its unforgeable property. This ensures that the distributed ledger remains secure and consistent across all shards, even in the presence of malicious actors.
17. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the summary of the present state of the second shard comprises a cryptographic hash of a previous transaction included in the second shard.
The invention relates to distributed ledger technology, specifically systems for managing and verifying data across multiple shards in a blockchain or similar decentralized database. The problem addressed is ensuring data integrity and consistency when validating transactions or states across different shards, particularly in scenarios where shards operate independently or asynchronously. The invention involves a method for validating the state of a second shard by referencing a summary of its current state. This summary includes a cryptographic hash of a previous transaction within the second shard, which serves as a verifiable reference point. The system uses this hash to confirm that the second shard's state is consistent with expected historical data, preventing tampering or inconsistencies. The summary may also include additional metadata, such as a timestamp or transaction identifier, to further enhance validation. The method ensures that when a first shard interacts with the second shard, it can trust the integrity of the second shard's data by cross-referencing the cryptographic hash. This approach is particularly useful in permissioned or hybrid blockchain systems where shards may have different levels of trust or operate under different consensus mechanisms. The use of cryptographic hashing provides a lightweight yet secure way to verify state without requiring full transaction history replication. The invention improves efficiency and security in multi-shard distributed ledger systems by enabling reliable cross-shard validation.
19. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the shard transaction is sent to a leader verifier of the first shard; and wherein the computer-readable storage media storing program instructions, when executed on or across one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to further perform proposing, by the leader verifier, the shard transaction to a set of verifier processes active on the first shard according to a consensus protocol.
This invention relates to distributed ledger technology, specifically a system for processing transactions in a sharded blockchain network. The problem addressed is ensuring efficient and secure transaction validation across multiple shards, where each shard operates independently but must maintain consensus with other shards. The system involves a leader verifier within a first shard that receives a shard transaction. The leader verifier then proposes this transaction to a set of verifier processes active on the first shard. These verifier processes follow a consensus protocol to validate the transaction. The consensus protocol ensures that all verifier processes agree on the transaction's validity before it is added to the shard's ledger. This approach improves scalability by distributing transaction validation across shards while maintaining security through consensus mechanisms. The invention also includes computer-readable storage media storing program instructions that, when executed, enable the leader verifier to propose transactions and the verifier processes to participate in consensus. This ensures that transactions are processed efficiently and securely within the shard before being propagated to other shards if needed. The system enhances blockchain performance by reducing bottlenecks in transaction validation.
20. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable storage media of claim 19, wherein the summary of the present state of the second shard comprises information regarding other verifier processes of the second shard.
This invention relates to distributed ledger technology, specifically systems for verifying and summarizing the state of sharded blockchains. The problem addressed is the inefficiency and complexity of verifying the current state of individual shards in a sharded blockchain network, where each shard operates as a separate partition of the ledger. Traditional verification methods require extensive communication between shards, leading to delays and increased computational overhead. The invention provides a method for generating and distributing a summary of the present state of a second shard in a sharded blockchain network. This summary includes information about other verifier processes operating within the second shard, allowing for more efficient state verification. The summary is generated by a verifier process within the second shard and is then transmitted to a first shard, which uses the summary to verify the state of the second shard without requiring direct interaction with all verifier processes in the second shard. This reduces the communication overhead and improves the overall efficiency of the blockchain network. The summary may include various types of information, such as the status of transactions, the current state of smart contracts, or other relevant data that verifier processes in the second shard have processed. By consolidating this information into a summary, the invention enables faster and more scalable verification across shards, addressing the challenges of maintaining consistency and security in large-scale distributed ledger systems.
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November 23, 2022
May 21, 2024
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